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Aston Villa’s Coutinho, Digne in contention to start vs. Manchester United

By Andrew Capitelli

Aston Villa's English head coach Steven Gerrard applauds supporters after the English FA Cup third round football match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on January 10, 2022. - Man Utd won the game 1-0. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Aston Villa's English head coach Steven Gerrard applauds supporters after the English FA Cup third round football match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on January 10, 2022. - Man Utd won the game 1-0. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard said on Friday that fresh January signings Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne are “both available and in contention” to play against Manchester United on Saturday evening.

Villa welcome United to Villa Park less than a week after suffering a controversial FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday.

A win would secure Villa’s first league double over Manchester United since 1954. Kortney Hause’s 88th-minute winner fired Villa to a 1-0 win over the Red Devils on September 25.

Fans will be anxious to get a look at the high-profile signings in Villa’s first home match since a 3-1 Boxing Day loss to Chelsea. Villa were without John McGinn on that day and will again be without the Scotsman’s services on Saturday due to suspension.

Villa enter the weekend in 14th place with 22 points from 19 matches. United are nine points clear of the Villans in seventh place and four points adrift of the European places.

Gerrard’s side seeks their first win since a 2-0 triumph at Norwich on December 14. Their last Premier League action was a 2-1 loss at Brentford on January 2.

Aston Villa vs. Manchester United team news

Several first-team regulars are unavailable to Gerrard ahead of this fixture.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 04: Philippe Coutinho of FC Barcelona runs with the ball during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at Camp Nou on December 04, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 04: Philippe Coutinho of FC Barcelona runs with the ball during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at Camp Nou on December 04, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) /

In addition to McGinn’s suspension, and lingering injuries to Leon Bailey and Marvelous Nakamba, Bertrand Traore and Trézéguet are currently on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Jaden Philogene-Bidace, who made a substitute cameo on Sunday, picked up a knock and is ruled out as well.

Despite Coutinho’s availability, Gerrard said “he’s not match fit because over at Barcelona he’s been doing a lot of individual training and in small groups.” He’s unlikely to start on Saturday but could come on as a sub.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Maguire, and Jadon Sancho are all back in training for Manchester United and could feature at Villa Park.

Paul Pogba remains out while Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay will serve one-match suspensions.

Aston Villa projected Starting XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Sanson, Douglas Luiz J. Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins; Ings

Manchester United projected Starting XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Telles; Fred, Matic; Greenwood, Fernandes; Ronaldo, Cavani

Date/time: Saturday, January 15 at 5:30 PM BST/12:30 PM EST

Ground: Villa Park

TV/Streaming UK: Sky Sports

TV/Streaming US: NBC

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